George Freitas, Journeyman Plumber
“I’ve only been in 393 for six years. Before that, I owned an autobody and paint shop for 10 years. I was chasing a dream, but I had a wife and kids, and it wasn’t about me anymore. I needed better pay, insurance, and retirement. A friend of mind told me 393 was looking for guys. At first, I didn’t want to be a Roto-Rooter going around and cleaning people’s toilets. He told me, “No no no! It’s NOTHING like that.” As I learned more, I was blown away.
“We’re taking empty buildings, and bringing in water and bringing out waste. It’s not something you just slap together, it’s an art. These are complex designs, and there’s a reason for every pipe. Google is pretty unique and different, and every day I’m like, ‘WOW! Who designed this?!?’
“It’s also cool because there’s room to grow into whatever you want to be with our training center. But for me it’s all about the people and making something together in the field. The union is a tight knit group, we take pride in our work, and we have each other’s backs. It’s like a second family. My first family is my wife and our three young kids. I try to spend as much time with them as possible these days, because the apprenticeship took up so much of my life. My only wish is that I had done my apprenticeship earlier, because when I go to work, I love my job.”
Aleksandr Mlynash, Journeyman Steamfitter
“They call me Russian Alex, and I’ve been in Local 393 for 21 years. I emigrated from the former Soviet Union country of Georgia in 1994. I had a civil engineering degree in water supply and sewer systems there. But when I came to the U.S., I spoke zero English, and I couldn’t get a job in engineering. I had two kids, and I searched for a long time for work. Finally, someone in the Russian community knew a Russian guy who owned a nonunion plumbing company. I made $8 per hour.
“I worked non-union for four years until I was 46 years old. I was on a residential job, and the customer was an 85-year-old retired union member. He talked to me all about the union. So I went to the union hall, took the test, and became union.
“I am 67, and I am planning for this to be my last year. I’ve been going since 1976, so I think that’s enough time. I’ve worked seven days a week to pay for a house and put my kids through college. When I retire, I’ll have more time to spend with my wife of 40 years, my kids, and my grandkids. And I’ll finally have time to travel the USA and learn all about the history of this country.”
Chad Kotel, Foreman
“Before I started the apprenticeship in 2002, I worked at our supply houses. I used to drop off the materials, and I knew I wanted into the union. I started having kids, and it was a better career with the pay and benefits. I turned out in 2007 and have been everywhere since. When our economy went under, I traveled to Vegas and Orange County. When work picked up, I found my way back home. Today, I’m a foreman at the Charleston site.
“I love being mechanical, working with my hands, and the freedom of plumbing. You drive by building sites and brag to your kids, ‘I built that.’ At Charleston, everything is cutting edge green. We’re piping in regenerated rain water for all the non-potable parts.
“I’ve been married 22 years and have three daughters and one son. My wife owns an antique store, so I go treasure hunting with her in my free time. I also have a lot of old cars, and work on them with one of my daughters. My son wants to come into the Local, so we’ll have a second generation 393. The union has done a lot for me. It’s allowed me to raise my family, travel, and have a good life. It’s not a job, it’s a career. Let’s keep moving forward and keep the union strong.”
Ryan Ponce, Journeyman Plumber
“I got into the trades about seven years ago. I had just graduated from San Jose State and was applying for different jobs in the police department. I had a girlfriend at the time whose dad was in a union. I had always worked with my hands. And the plumbers just had such a great wage and benefits package.
“I love it: It’s a very satisfying career path. Unlike 9-5 jobs, there are different job sites, the scenery is always changing, and every day is different. My favorite part is putting up copper pipes in mechanical rooms where everyone can see the work neatly done.
“In the union, there’s a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie, and we’re there for a common goal on the job sites. There are so many journeymen who shaped me, and I have been toying around with giving back by teaching an intro class at the training center. The trades are good, honest work, and I want to pass my knowledge on to the future of our Local.
“I was born and raised in San Jose. I have two dogs who are my babies. My girlfriend and I like to take them to a cabin in Eagle Lake. We like to romp in the snow in the winter, or swim in the lake in the summer. I also enjoy working on cars, fishing, and wakeboarding. I like to work hard and relax outdoors.”